Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Why Lodi, Ohio?

It's kind of funny. My book, The Flu has been out for a few years, and only recently have I been asked, 'Why did I pick Lodi?'

For those of you who have asked, THANK YOU.

So here I'll share the story ...

Awhile back, I was en route to Cleveland from Pittsburgh and my friend and I stopped there because we were looking for another little town around there. Seville, to be exact. All in Medina County. It was raining, and I still remember the song we played rolling into town. Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer.

Form the moment we pulled in, I just fell in love with it. It was everything you'd imagine a small town to be. The Gazebo, the perfect town square surrounding the small park, and back then a little white house that was the library. It had a sign on it, too. The sign said, "we have a computer;

There was a corner restaurant, for a while it was The Lighthouse, and then there was the Lodi Diner (I think that was the name). I got a mug from there.

And let's not forget the Corn Festival! The people are so nice. They have a festival every year.

Since that day in 1997, for years I would just take day trips up to Lodi. From Pittsburgh it was a little over 2 hours. Just a road trip. Weird I know. I'd pack the kids and tell them we were taking a day vacation to ... Lodi.

It's an obsession and I remember when I went there before writing The Flu, I was telling the lady at the restaurant about it, then I went to the new Library, and next thing I know the police are after me. The Chief of Police (Steve was his name) wanted to talk to me. Here there was a scandal and he was fearful my book was about him.

It wasn't. I'm linking an album to photos I took about six and a half years ago, when me and my boys took a trip to Lodi so I could do an interview with a local paper.

Since that day, I have included Lodi is SO many books.The FluFlu 2Road to LodiCall me GideonThe Forgotten

Just to name a few.

Of course, I have taken liberties, and added some fiction to Lodi. After all, I do write fiction. But never to I ever portray Lodi in a bad light. Why would I? I love it. And it is the town I plan on one day moving to so I can be that crazy writer lady, everyone talks about.

15 comments:

I have raised my family here in Lodi. We love it here! Glad you enjoy it and you are talking about it. The Lighthouse Restaurant is still here. Steve has since retired and his replacement is great! Your always welcome here! Thank You, Rex Hyder of Lodi, Ohio

I grew up in Seville, Ohio and now live just outside of Atlanta, GA. I enjoyed growing up in the area which included Seville, Westfield Center, Lodi and Medina. I greatly miss living there but at least I get the chance to come back and visit several times a year since my parents still live in my childhood home in Seville. I have sadly not read any of your work, which I will correct very shortly.

That's so neat that you wrote books on my home town! My parents still live there and I live about 15 min. outside of lodi now in an even smaller town. lolI wish you could have seen it when I was little so many things have changed since then! Keep visiting:)

I am seeing Lodi in a different light and through your eyes. I lived there briefly and went to school at Lodi Jr. High. Will be looking forward to reading your books. I grew up outside of Seville and not live in Creston. Small towns rock. I have family near Pittsburg too..

I was born and raised in Lodi way back when (born 1946). I loved growing up in a small town and as a kid playing under the Amish horses that would come to town. I lived there for the first 36 years of my life. We moved to SW Florida in '81. I love the warmth of Florida and don't miss the snow and cold but boy do I miss the small town and the fact that everyone knew everyone else in town. It was a happy town. That I surely do miss. But with my health I have to stay in the warmer climates. But still love Lodi the best.

I was born in Lodi and have lived there and in surrounding areas -Spencer, Chatham, West Salem, Medina, Burbank all my life. Lodi is where I keep going back to. I love that little town! I remember when the IDOL theater was there. I used to go to that often. Leatherman's Hardware was the place to go to find those hard to find pieces. The restaurant downtown was Lewis' Homestyle Restaurant. I worked there for awhile. It then became Baxter's, and then something else before becoming the Lighthouse Café. The restaurant down by the underpass was the Hob Nob. My oldest daughter started her work experience there. It has changed hands so many times since then. I believe it is now Old 42. The annual Corn Festival is something we go to every year....I think I missed a few. When my oldest was little there was a circus that came to town and was located in the same location. My kids all played softball on those fields too. Lodi, the good, the bad, but the HOME!!!

I have to say I am from Lodi and I cannot agree with this post one bit. If you live out in the country that is one thing, you are able to escape the inside trash that is Lodi. But, I was in high school last year and the Lodi you know and the Lodi I live in are two very different places. First off Lodi has a 51 percent renting population which means most people don't even own their own houses so everyone here is poor, or trying to gain enough cash to move away. Second If you ever took a visit to river street or the people inside of it your skin may crawl because they pretty much all do or did drugs. We had our banks robbed ON FOOT they are about 100 yards away from the police station! Now, I am not trying to say everyone in Lodi is bad obviously, I come from there after all. And I am not some judgmental jerk who looks down upon people. I am feeding you facts. Here's my opinion I can sum up Lodi in about one to two sentences. A small town with a drug problem, crappy cops, lack of motivation, little income, and white trash who live in trailers.Out in Harrisville township you may find nice people though. And even in the upper part of Lodi, not down town. But, I would describe much of it as filth to be honest, and I laughed when I read this blog. Don't delete this post because it opposes your opinion either. there should be controversy about this. My hometown needs fixed.

Jackie, you had to know we were going to ask about Lodi! It comes up in so many of your books and thank you for sharing how you came to include it in all your books! The Flu remains one of my favorite books by YOU. Looking forward to more books and in those books another glimpse of Lodi.